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Grace Smith's Reviews > Hotter in the Hamptons
Hotter in the Hamptons
by
by
ARC REVIEW ⭐️
I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, particularly the influencer situation Lola found herself in, as it’s such a relevant and relatable topic in today’s world. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself increasingly frustrated, especially with how LGBTQIA+ themes were handled. The book leaned heavily into stereotypes that felt shallow and uninformed, which was both off-putting and disappointing. I truly hope these elements were written from a place of genuine experience rather than being used as a convenient plot device or a way to appeal to trends. If this book is going to be part of a series, I hope future installments move away from these tropes and offer more thoughtful representation. What also pains me is that these stereotypes are coming from a straight women, so that is especially harmful.
While there were moments of growth for Lola by the end, the journey felt rushed and lacked emotional depth. Her reliance on validation from her followers was frustrating to read about, and while I appreciated her eventual realization that she needed to stand on her own, it felt like therapy or deeper introspection was missing from her arc.
Another major issue for me was the storyline involving Aly writing such a cruel article about Lola, only for them to end up dating. While I generally enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, this dynamic felt forced and uncomfortable in this context. It didn’t resonate emotionally and left me feeling disconnected from their relationship.
The spice level was decent, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to redeem the overall experience for me. I give this book 3 🌶� out of 5 but sincerely hope future works in this series are more mindful in their portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters and themes.
I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, particularly the influencer situation Lola found herself in, as it’s such a relevant and relatable topic in today’s world. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself increasingly frustrated, especially with how LGBTQIA+ themes were handled. The book leaned heavily into stereotypes that felt shallow and uninformed, which was both off-putting and disappointing. I truly hope these elements were written from a place of genuine experience rather than being used as a convenient plot device or a way to appeal to trends. If this book is going to be part of a series, I hope future installments move away from these tropes and offer more thoughtful representation. What also pains me is that these stereotypes are coming from a straight women, so that is especially harmful.
While there were moments of growth for Lola by the end, the journey felt rushed and lacked emotional depth. Her reliance on validation from her followers was frustrating to read about, and while I appreciated her eventual realization that she needed to stand on her own, it felt like therapy or deeper introspection was missing from her arc.
Another major issue for me was the storyline involving Aly writing such a cruel article about Lola, only for them to end up dating. While I generally enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, this dynamic felt forced and uncomfortable in this context. It didn’t resonate emotionally and left me feeling disconnected from their relationship.
The spice level was decent, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to redeem the overall experience for me. I give this book 3 🌶� out of 5 but sincerely hope future works in this series are more mindful in their portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters and themes.
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Reading Progress
March 30, 2025
–
Started Reading
March 30, 2025
– Shelved
March 30, 2025
–
Finished Reading
